50 Ideas for Old-Fashioned Summer Fun

The strongest memories we have often involve all of our senses; especially smell. In an age of computers, the Internet, DVDs and iPods, it is possible to imagine that our memories of bygone years will be undermined by too much time spent watching life instead of living it. Rediscover smells like fresh-squeezed lemonade and create new summer memories with this list of fifty ideas for old-fashioned summer fun!

While these ideas might seem child-centered, the truth is, they would make for fun summer activities for any age group. Just add more sophisticated food and beverages for more mature audiences!

1: Board games. Some classics to consider are Life, Clue, Battleship, Trivial Pursuit, and Backgammon. If you need more ideas, check out Board Game Central (boardgamecentral.com).

2: Card games. Games to try include Cribbage, Rummy, Poker and more. For an alphabetized list of card games and rules online go to the Card Games web site (www.pagat.com).

3: Jump rope. To make it more fun, try some jump rope rhymes. A comprehensive list with variations is at Games Kids Play (www.gameskidsplay.net).

4: Kite flying. Kites are fun to make and fly and might be one of the best ways to spend a summer day that is a bit too cold and windy for swimming.

5: Build sand castles. This is both a tactile and imaginative activity that is also a lesson in tides and the transitory nature of life (bring a camera to capture the glory!).

6: Make root beer floats. Some say you should put the ice cream in first while others say that it is best to put in the ice cream after the root beer - sounds like a good home experiment!

7: Homemade ice cream. You can use an old hand crank machine or you can substitute two coffee cans if you haven't got an ice cream maker of any sort.

8: Popsicles. Buy them or make your own. Delicious either way!

9: Building forts. Build forts out of blankets, cardboard boxes, whatever is on hand!

10: Have tea parties. These can be imaginary or real and might involve china or paper cups; it doesn't matter as long as you have fun. Especially good with homemade lemonade (#23)!

11: Grow a garden teepee. I have always thought this looked like great fun! Ask your local nursery or home building supplies store for tips and how to guides. Or search online for a number of instructions and plant ideas (you can use pole beans, moonflower, cucumbers or morning glory).

12: Gardening in general. Not only does gardening involve sight, smell, taste (if you grow edible things), touch and sound (gardens are filled with distinct sounds) but it thrives on getting dirty! Even if you don't have a plot of land at your disposal, try container gardening or look into renting a spot at a community garden.

13: Fruit picking. Strawberries, cherries, peaches, blueberries, oh my! For information on what to do with your harvest (canning tips) and links to a statelist to help you locate a pick-your-own fruit farm near you visit the Pick Your Own web site (www.pickyourown.org)

14: Swimming. There is always the local pool or visit the Swimming Holes web site for ideas on where to swim (swimmingholes.info).

15: Riding bikes. It's good for the earth and good for your heart! And who doesn't remember summers defined by "riding bikes"? Make sure to do a maintenance check on your bike at the beginning of each season and remember that riding with a helmet is the safest way to ride. If you ride at night, invest in lights that you can attach to your bike, yourself or your backpack.

16: Backyard camping. Buy s'mores supplies, drag out the sleeping bags and flashlights and enjoy a night under the stars.

17: Scavenger hunt. You might hunt for things found in nature, things found at the pool or beach, things in a thrift store, be creative and have fun!

18: Play badminton. Or volleyball or tennis or any other game with a net - badminton is especially good for BBQs and picnics (#33).

19: Play marbles. There are many games to play with marbles. For rules see the Traditional Scouting web site (www.inquiry.net).

20: Make play dough. There is traditional and gluten free, colored and un-colored but my favorite will always be peanut butter (know who might be allergic to nuts or peanuts before trying peanut butter play dough!)

21: Build a birdhouse. Or at least try. I don't know many people that finish this project that start it as a kid but its worth a go.

22: Visit a museum. If you need help locating a museum near you or you are looking for a specific type of museum, see the USA Museums Database online (www.museumca.org/usa/).

23: Make lemonade. Cool, refreshing and so much better than anything you can buy in the store.

24: Go fishing. Fishing is timeless. As long as there are fish, there will be fishing. Not everyone's cup of tea but if you like water, being on a boat or on shore, being quiet or whispering with friends, this might be worth trying. Remember that fishing comes in many varieties: lake fishing, shore fishing, fly-fishing, sea fishing and the list goes on. Ask for help at a local sports store or better yet a local tackle shop for regulations on fishing in your area and help with getting started.

25: Tie-dye. This is a great summer activity because dying is a messy process and there is something fun about sitting in the grass and cutting rubber bands off of t-shirts to reveal their inner tie-dyed beauty.

26: Play croquet. Or try other lawn games like bocce ball or horseshoes.

27: Stage a play. You might find one you like online or at the library stage it as is, or you might adapt it or try writing your own. If you need inspiration, watch Finding Neverland.

28: Sit on a porch or porch swing. Outdoor summer places are very special indeed. A porch swing or swing under a grape arbor, the steps on a front stoop, a rocking chair on a screened porch - creating a summer space outside that is a place for a few family and friends to meet and stay cool is as old fashioned as it gets.

29: Create a dress-up trunk. Go to a thrift store, buy an old suitcase and some fun, funky clothes and hats and let the fun begin.

30: Listen to live music. If you are interested in classical music find info on local orchestras at Meet the Music (www.meetthemusic.org) or check your local papers and online for other musical events on offer.

31: Go sailing. This is not limited to people on the coast! Try sailing on a lake with a wind sail or sunfish.

32: Make candles. The easiest may be the roll-up beeswax candles but the possibiliites are endless.

33: Go for a picnic. Pack the perfect old-fashioned picnic; take the bug spray and head to one of your favorite picnic spots! You might combine this activity with building sand castles (#5), kite flying (#3), going hiking (#36) or listening to live music (#30).

34: Visit a farm. This can be especially fun to do when baby animals are born or still quite young.

35: Go to a fair. Every state has a fair. To find information on one in your state or one near you, check out the online State Fair Directory (www.ncstatefair.com/).

36: Go Hiking. Wear comfortable shoes, take plenty of water, a basic first aid kit, rain gear and some healthy, energy filled snacks. Also, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back because your cell phone might not work out on the trail.

37: Make puppets. Sock puppets, finger puppets, Popsicle-stick puppets and paper bag puppets are popular choices. You might stage a play (# 27) with your puppets!

38: Have a watermelon seed-spitting contest. There might even be an official competition at the fair (#35)!

39: Play Charades. A classic and one that the whole family usually enjoys.

40: Draw with sidewalk chalk. While you are at it, you might try playing hopscotch (#50)!

41: Skip stones. Everyone enjoys life's simple pleasures.

42: Go to summer festivals. Check online or in the local paper for festivals dedicated to your town, strawberries, your town founder or ice cream: summer is a time of celebration!

43: Go dancing. You might dance at the fair (#35) or a festival (#42), or while listening to live music (#30), or in a meadow, or your own backyard!

44: Read a book. Many libraries and bookstores offer summer reading lists, or ask your child's teacher, your friends or search online for recommendations.

45: Do puzzles. Try jigsaw puzzles or a traditional riddle.

46: Go on a butterfly / firefly hunt. It might be tempting to catch them in a jar but remember that if you do, they will surely die much sooner than if you just enjoy them in their natural habitat.

47: Go to the drive in movies. Not sure where one is near you? Check Drive in Theater online (www.driveintheater.com).

48: Play catch. With baseballs, beanbags or water balloons. Or play keep-away if there are three people!

49: Throw a Frisbee. Or try other disc games like Frisbee-golf or ultimate Frisbee.

50: Play hopscotch. Or if you have a ball, play four square.